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Phytosterols on growth performance, antioxidant enzymes and intestinal morphology in weaned piglets
Author(s) -
Hu Qiaoling,
Li Sisi,
Zhang Yiwei,
Zhuo Zhao,
Feng Jie
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.8333
Subject(s) - malondialdehyde , lipid peroxidation , crypt , jejunum , duodenum , polymyxin b , diarrhea , biology , antioxidant , zoology , feed conversion ratio , ileum , small intestine , cholesterol , polymyxin , antibiotics , medicine , biochemistry , endocrinology , body weight
BACKGROUND Plant extracts have been used widely to improve growth, lower cholesterol, and exert antioxidative defense and antimicrobial activities in animal production. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary phytosterols ( PS ) on growth performance, antioxidant enzymes and intestinal morphology in weaned piglets. RESULTS A total of 120 crossbred piglets, weighing 9.58 ± 0.26 kg, were randomly allocated to three treatments: control, PS (0.2 g kg −1 ) and polymyxin E (0.04 g kg −1 , antibiotic control). Compared to the control, PS or polymyxin E supplementation decreased diarrhea rate, serum cholesterol and malondialdehyde ( MDA ) of the piglets ( P < 0.05). Liver MDA was significantly decreased in PS ‐fed piglets compared to the control ( P < 0.05), although there was no difference between the control and polymyxin E‐fed piglets. PS increased the villous height/crypt depth ratio of the duodenum and jejunum compared to the control ( P < 0.05). Polymyxin E supplementation in piglets did not alter the villous height/crypt depth ratio but raised the villous height and crypt depth of the duodenum compared to the control ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results of the present study indicated that PS could decrease diarrhea rate, lower serum cholesterol, reduce lipid peroxidation and ameliorate intestinal morphology in weaned piglets. In addition, PS exerted better amelioration on intestinal morphology than polymyxin E in piglets. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry